EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 290 - STREAMLINING THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, Presidential Proclamation No. 131 and Executive Order No. 229 both dated July 22, 1987 instituted a Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and provided the mechanisms for its implementation;

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 129-A dated July 26, 1987 reorganized and strengthened the Department of Agrarian Reform in order to carry out its mandate;  

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 6657, approved on June 10, 1988, redefined the scope of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program and re-emphasized its purpose/objective which is to ensure that the welfare of the landless farmers and farmworkers will receive the highest consideration to promise social justice and to move the nation towards sound rural development and industrialization;

WHEREAS, there is a need to rationalize, re-align and streamline the present organization structure and functions of the Department in order to respond to the new thrusts as spelled out under RA 6657, to meet the challenges of the global and modernizing economy and to attune itself to emerging local and international development imperatives and deliver its services to its clientele with greater efficiency and effectiveness;

WHEREAS, Sec. 20, Chapter 7, Title I, Book III of Executive Order No. 292 series of 1987, otherwise known as the “Administrative Code of 1987,” empowers the President of the Philippines to exercise such powers and functions as are vested in him under the law;  

WHEREAS, Sec. 76 of the General Provisions of RA 8760, otherwise known as the “General Appropriations Act of 2000,” empowers the President to direct changes in organization and key positions of any department, bureau or agency;

WHEREAS, Sec. 78 of the same Act provides, among others, that the heads of departments, bureaus, offices and agencies and other entities in the Executive Branch are directed to conduct a comprehensive review of their respective mandates, functions, programs, projects, activities and systems and procedures; identify activities which are no longer essential in the delivery of public services and which may be scaled down, phased down, or abolished; and adopt measures that will result in the improved overall performance and productivity of their respective agencies; 

WHEREAS, Sec. 32 of Executive Order No. 129-A provides that “No change in the reorganization herein prescribed shall be valid except upon prior approval of the President for the purpose of promoting efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of public services”;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the power vested in me by law, do hereby order the following: 

Section 1. Mandate. — The Department of Agrarian Reform shall continue to pursue its mandate and exercise its powers as provided for under RA 6657 otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law” (CARL) and of Executive Order No. 129-A dated July 26, 1987 of Agrarian Reform and for Other Purposes.

Sec. 2. Preparation of a Rationalization and Streamlining Plan. — In view of the functional and operational redirection in the DAR and to effect efficiency and effectiveness in its activities, the Department shall prepare a Rationalization and Streamlining Plan (RSP) which shall be the basis for the intended changes. The RSP Plan shall contain the following:

a) the specific shift in policy directions, missions, visions, core values, functions, programs and service delivery processes and strategies;  

b) the structural and organizational shift, stating the specific functions and activities by organizational unit and the relationship of each units;

c) the staffing shift if any, highlighting and itemizing the existing filled and unfilled positions; and

d) the resource allocation shift, specifying the effects of the streamlined set-up on the agency budgetary allocation and indicating where possible, savings that have been generated.